Owning a home is a big responsibility. You’re in charge of keeping everything in top shape for maximum comfort. This usually involves a good amount of money beyond the initial cost of buying the house. Knowing how to do some of these projects yourself, rather than hiring someone else, can both save you money and instill a sense of pride. Here are five repairs for the home that you are certainly capable of doing yourself.
1) Prepping for Paint
There’s nothing like a new paint job to freshen up a room. A new coat not only protects the wall but can create an entirely new atmosphere. In order for the painting to go smoothly it is important to thoroughly prep for the job.
Be sure to remove your fixtures so you’re not tiptoeing around them when you start painting. You’ll be done a lot faster without having to worry about damaging any decorations and you won’t have any awkward blank spots afterwards.
2) Doors
Your doors may not suffer the wear and tear of the outside walls of your home, but their condition can still deteriorate. Due to temperature changes the wood can swell, causing to door to get stuck or fail to close. You can use a simple tool called a carpenter’s plane to shave off the edge of the wood, as long as you’re careful not to chip the edge. Checking the hinges regularly will also ensure that everything is swinging smoothly.
3) Caulk
Caulk is a cheap substance used to create a seal between your tub and the floor, the shower and the wall, and any other place where water may seep into your home. Replacing it can be tricky but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to handle it yourself.
You have to completely remove the old caulk before laying down the new line. Scraping it off is possible but difficult. Luckily there are multiple solutions to treat the old caulk, letting it come away easily.
When applying the new caulk, keep your hand steady to apply the substance in a straight line.
4) Fixing your Faucet
There are a few different types of faucets out there. One thing they all have in common is that eventually they start to leak. Luckily the process of fixing these is pretty simple. Just remember to shut off the water beforehand. The specifics for each faucet can probably be found online from each manufacturer.
5) Unplugging a Toilet
No one likes it, but everyone is going to have to do it at least once in their life. There are two surefire ways to go about this unpleasant task. If the clogging is due to a foreign object such as child’s toy, then a pair of rubber gloves will do the trick. If that fails then its time to break out the plunger.
If you’d like any more info on these topics be sure to click the link below.
HowStuffWorks “5 Home Repairs You Really Should Know How to Do Yourself”.
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